Improvement in railway-frogs



@with JOHN C.. RsUPP, 0F NEWARK, DELAWARE.

Letters Patent No. 109,670, dated November 29, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN VRAILWAY-FIAQGGIS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and laking part 0f the same. i

To all whom it nul-y concern: y

Be it known that I, J OHN C. ltUPP, of Newark, in the county of New Castle and State of Delaware, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Railroad Frogs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, olea-r, and exact description of the nature, construction, and operation of the saine, suicient to enable others skilled in the art to which niynvcntion appertains to fully understand and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing which is made a part of this specification, and in which- The figures are plau-views of two crossing tracks, exhibiting my devices located at the point of intel'- section for the purpose of guidingr the wheels in their proper course in passing across the intersecting rails.

I will premise that I am aware of the existence of numerous contrivanccs, termed frogs, which are designed to be actuated by the wheels of a locomotive for the purpose of affording at the intersection of tracks a continuous tread and guide for the wheels of the respective trains whicl run upon said tracks.

My invention relates to certain novel devices which are believed to be more simpleand eiiicient than any heretofore known, inasmuch as it comprises but few parts, which are adapted to invariably respond to the action of the locomotive wheels in putting the track in order for the passage of a train over the crossing, whatever may be-tlle direction of the train upon either track.

In the drawing* A A may represent the rails of the main track, and B B', the rails of the crossing track.

. At the pointwhere the rails of the respective tracks cross, as in the case of the rails A'B', shown inl the drawingis situated a guide-piece or frog, C, which is suitably pvoted, so that it may be turned from one position to another and thereby made to formv a continuation ot' either Af or B', according as the cars are traversing the track A A' or B Bv This change in the position of the frog O is eected by the action of the locomotive-wheels, and I shall now referto the parts by which the desired end is attained. y v

D is a bar, susceptible of a transverse, endwise movement in relation to the rails.

A suitable connection is made between the frog() and the bar D, so that 4the sliding Amovement of the said bar will have the effect to turn the frog upon its vertical' pivots, while the vibrator'y movement of the frog is, in turn, adapted to give a sliding movement to thebar. Y

The barD is providedmzpon its upper side and near its ends, with clamps, d d; or other devices, which form loose or slidingl connections between the bars E E and the said bar I).

The bars E E may consist of railroad-rail sections,` p

which they occupy in fig. 1, it is manifest that the main track A A is in proper order for the passage of the carwheels thereon, in either direction,while the other track B B' requires a change in the position of the frog C in order that wheels running on B B may he properly guided and maintained in their course at the crossing. .lhe change referred to would give the parts the position shown vin fig. 2, in which the track A A is closed,7 and B B' open.v Let it be supposed that the parts are disposed as shown in iig. 1, and that a train is moving on the track B' B', in the direction of arrow 1. 'lhe lateral pressure of the forward wheel-flange upon the 'side of the frog would throw the frog into the position in whicll it is shown in fig. 2, the wheels being thus made to preserve their proper course vand degreeof elevation at the crossing.y

But supposing the cars to be traveling in the direction of arrow 2 upon the rails B B', the parts being i n the position represented in tig.1,' Then the desired change in the position (from that shown in fig.1 to that in fig. 2) would be etfected by the action of the forward wheel upon the end of the bar E', said bar being turned upon its" pivot s0 as to give the necessary movement tothe barD and frog C. The pivoted bar E performs a similar function in connection with the track AA' and the frog C.

The above contrivance, it will be seen, prepares the track at crossings for the passage of the cars in either direction upon either of the tracks.

Having thus described my invention.

What I claim as new herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

.lrhe bars D and EE', combined with the frog C and with the rails A A,B.'B, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth. v lslxe above signed by me this 17th day 0f November,

JOHN O. RUPP.

Witnesses:

J oHN A. Wmnnnsnnm, T. C. OoNNoLLY. 

